Brake for a track vehicle

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a vehicle including a track trained, in part, about a support mounted on a frame, and a brake shoe movable relative to a braking position in opposing relation to said support, and with said track between said support and said shoe, together with means on said frame for moving said brake shoe to and from said braking position.

O United States Patent [151 3,66 1 ,430 Wooters 1 1 May 9, 1972 [54]BRAKE FOR A TRACK VEHICLE 1,069,761 8/1913 Buckley ..280/28.5 ux [72]Inventor: Eldon W. WOOIGI'S, Lincoln, Nebr. FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1 1 Assigneel Outboard Marine Corporation, 887,224 11/1943France 180/61 kegan, 111- 118,771 8/1958 U.S.S.R. ..305/9 2 Fl d: 12,1970 [2 1 16 June Primary EA'atfliIICF-BCHJHITIIH Hersh [21 Appl. No.:45,617 Assistant Examiner-John A. Pekar Attorney-Spencer B. Michael,Robert K. Gerling, Robert E. Clemency, John W. Michael, Gerri! D.Foster, Bayard H. [52] U.S.Cl ..305/9, 180/6.7, 188/31 MiChael Paul RPuemer Joseph A Gemignani and Andrew [51] Int. Cl ..B62d 55/00 0.Riteris [58] Field ofSearch ..305/9; 180/67; 188/31, 29.

188/69; 280/28.5; 74/2l6.5 [57] ABSTRACT [56] References Cited Disclosedherein is a vehicle including a track trained, in part,

about a support mounted on a frame, and a brake shoe mova- UNITED STATESPATENTS ble relative to a braking position in opposing relation to saidsupport, and with said track between said support and said Richardson Xh together means on Said frame for moving Said brake 1,292,078 1/1929Ruan shoe to and from said braking position. 3,088,531 5/1963 Garrett etal.... 1,890,728 12/1932 Fundom ..180/6.7 UX 8 Claims, 3 Drawing FiguresBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past several years variousall-terrain vehicles have been developed. At least some such vehicles,as for instance the vehicle disclosed in the .lespersen U.S. applicationSer. No. 857,494 filed Sept. 12, 1969, are well adapted to climb up andtravel down and along the side of relatively steep slopes. In such avehicle, it is desirable, and particularly if there is any possibilityof drive train failure, to prevent, independently of the drive train,unwanted travel of the vehicle, as for instance, down a slope orotherwise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a brake for one track ofa vehicle to prevent unwanted movement of the track and thereby toprevent unwanted vehicle movement. In accordance with theinvention,,linkage means are provided for moving the brake to and from abraking position and braking action is provided by interferingengagement between corrugations or other surface irregularities on thebrake shoe and lugs, buttons or other surface irregularities on thetrack to prevent longitudinal movement of the track relative to thebrake shoe. The invention relies primarily on interference with movementof the belt or track by the brake shoe. Any frictional braking resultingfrom conventional normal forces is secondary.

The linkage means for moving the brake shoe toward and away from itsbraking position includes adjustable means for adjustably locating thebraking position relative to the track and its support.

Also in accordance with the invention, a brake is provided for only oneof the tracks of a two-track vehicle as when one track is braked and theother track is unbraked, if there is movement of the unbraked track,such movement will turn the vehicle to present one of the vehicle sidesto the slope and thereby prevent any tendency to travel down the slop.Braking of only one of the tracks, and the consequent tendency to turnsidewise, avoids the possibility of the vehicle tipping end over end iflongitudinal movement of both tracks is prevented.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a brake,independently of the drive train, for one track of a two track vehicle.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a brakeaffording braking action by interfering engagement between surfaceirregularities on a brake shoe and on a track.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake arrangement for atrack vehicle, which arrangement is simple and relatively economical tomanufacture, and which will provide reliable operation over a long anduseful life.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become known byreference to the following description and accompanying drawings inwhich:

DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a vehicle embodying various ofthe features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view illustrating thebraking arrangement incorporated in the vehicle shown in FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end view, partly in section, alsoillustrating the braking arrangement incorporated in the vehicle shownin FIG. I.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Shown in the drawings is a vehicle 11 which embodiesvarious of the features of the invention and which is otherwise ingeneral accordance with the disclosure of U.S. application Ser. No.857,494, filed by Herbert A. Jespersen on Sept. 12, I969. The vehicleincludes a frame or housing 13 supported on each side by a pair ofground engaging endless track assemblies 15, each of which includes anendless track or belt 17 supported by and driven by suitable meansincluding a drive sprocket 19, a plurality of movably mounted bogies 21and an idler wheel 23.

Except as noted herein, the details of the construction of the frame 11and of the endless track assemblies 15 are not a part of the inventionand will not otherwise be described in detail. It should, however, bementioned that the idler wheels 23 and the sprockets 19 are each mountedfrom the frame 13 for rotation about respectively fixed axes. Inaddition, it should be noted that each belt 17 includes transverselyarranged members in the form of longitudinally spaced transverselyextending lugs 27 and a transverse series of buttons 29 located intransversely spaced relation to each other and in longitudinally spacedrelation from adjacent transverse lugs 27. The belt can include varioussystems of transversely arranged members for providing traction and forcooperation with the brake as will be described in greater detail.

In accordance with the invention, means 31 are provided for selectivelybraking one of the belts or tracks 17 against longitudinal movement.While various constructions can be employed, in the disclosedconstruction, such brake means includes a brake shoe 33 mounted from theframe 13 for movement relative to a braking position in opposingrelation to a track support with the track located between the brakeshoe 33 and the track support. The brake means 31 also includes means onthe frame for moving the brake shoe 33 to and from the braking position.

Various track supports can be employed, for instance, a track supportingplate under a lengthwise run could be employed. In addition, either thesprocket or the idler wheel can be employed as the track support. In thedisclosed construction, it is preferred to use the idler wheel 23 as thetrack support.

In view of the cooperation between the brake shoe 33 and the idler wheel23, it is preferred that the brake shoe 33 be arcuately formed so thatit will overlay a portion of the idler wheel 23 with the track 17captured therebetween.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided on the track shoe33 and on the track or belt 17 for interfitting engagement to preventlengthwise track movement when the brake shoe 33 is in the brakingposition. While various arrangements can be employed, in the disclosedconstruction such means includes the before-mentioned transverse lugs 27and buttons 29 on the track 17 and a series of transverse ribs orcorrugations 37 which are spaced on the brake shoe 33 so as to bereceived in the voids between the buttons 29 and the lugs 27 when thebrake shoe 33 is in its braking position, whereby to interfere with thelengthwise movement of the track or belt 17. Thus, belt movement isprevented when the brake shoe 33 is in braking position by interferingengagement of the brake shoe 33 with the belt 17. The friction developedby the normal forces acting between the belt 17 and the brake shoe 33and/or between the belt 17 and the idler wheel 23 are secondary.

Various arrangements can be employed for supporting the brake shoe 33from the vehicle frame 13 for movement relative to the brake positionand for displacing the brake shoe toward and away from its brakingposition. In the illustrated construction, the brake shoe 33 is carriedby a channel member 41 which, at one end, is fixed to a shaft 43 (seeFIG. 3) extending pivotally through a bushing 45 supported transverselyof the vehicle by another channel shaped member 47 fixed to theunderside of the vehicle deck 49 and to the outside of the adjacentvertical body or frame wall portion 53. In

. the disclosed construction, the shaft 43 passes through the adjacentvertical wall portion 53 of the body or frame 13 and into the interiorof the vehicle 11. At its inner end, the shaft 43 is fixed to anarrn orcrank 53 which extends in the opposite direction from the channel member41 supporting the brake shoe 33.

Forming a part of a means for moving the brake shoe 33 to and from thebrake position is a linkage 59 which is pivotally connected to the outerend of the crank 53 and which includes a link 61 pivoted at one end at60 to the outer end of the crank 53. At its other end, the link 61 ispivoted at 62 to an intermediate portion of a lever 63 which, in turn,is pivotally mounted on the frame 13 at 64.

The lever 63 includes a link part 67 and a handle part 69 which extendsat an angle to the link part 67. The lever 63 is pivotally connected tothe link 61 adjacent to the juncture of the link part 67 and the handlepart 69.

Means are provided for limiting pivotal movement of the lever 63relative to the link 61. Although various arrangements can be employed,in the disclosed construction, such means includes a flange or tab 71which extends from the link 61 in position to engage an edge or portion73 of the lever 63 to establish the braking position of the brake shoe33 and to stop relative pivotal movement of the link 61 relative to thelever 63 shortly before the link 61 would travel over-center withrespect to a line joining the pivotal connection 62 between the link 61and the lever 63 and the pivotal connection 64 at the lower end of thelever 63 between the linkage 59 and the frame 13.

In order to adjustably locate the brake shoe 33 with respect to itsdistance from the axis of the idler wheel 23 when the brake shoe is inthe braking position, and therefor to adjustably detennine the amount ofinterfering engagement between the brake shoe 33 and the belt 17, meansare provided for adjustably varying the length of the link part 67 ofthe lever 63. While various arrangements can be employed, in thedisclosed construction, such means includes a bushing 79 connected tothe lower end of the link part 67 and a stud or shaft 81 which ispivotally connected to the floor of the vehicle body or frame 13 at 64and which includes a threaded portion extending through the bushing 79.Nuts 83 are threaded on the stud 81 at each of the ends of the bushing79 so as to adjustably vary the overall length between the pivotalconnection 64 of the stud 81 to the vehicle frame 13 and the pivot 62between the link 61 and the lever 63.

In operation, the operator grasps the handle part 69 of the lever 63 andmoves the lever 63 from a retracted position shown in dotted lines inFIG. 1 to the braking position shown in full lines in FIG. 1, therebylocating the brake shoe 33 in interfering engagement with the belt 17.Such engagement will prevent longitudinal movement of the belt 17 aboutthe idler wheel 23 and will hold stationary the engaged belt 17.

In order to remove the brake shoe 33 from interfering engagement withthe belt 17, the operator swings the handle part 69 of the lever 63 soas to rotate the link part 67 about its pivotal connection with theframe 13 in order to swing the brake shoe 33 away from the belt 17.Thus, it will be seen that there is provided a simple and economicalarrangement for positively preventing lengthwise travel ofthe belt 17.

It is especially noted that the other belt 17 on the far side of FIG. 2is not provided with a brake such as the mechanism just described.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the followingclaims:

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising a frame, a support mounted on said frame, atrack trained, in part, about said support, a shoe, means for pivotallymounting said shoe on said frame for pivotal movement relative to abraking position and including an element connected to said shoe androckable about a transverse axis fixed with respect to said frame, alever pivotally connected to said frame, a link pivotally connected tosaid rockable element and to said lever, and means for limiting relativepivotal movement between said lever and said link to establish said shoein said braking position.

2. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pivotal movementlimiting means comprises a flange on one of the said link and saidlever, and an edge on the other of said link and said lever adapted tobe engaged by said flange.

3. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lever includes alink part pivotally connected at one end to said frame and a handle partextending from the other end of said link part at an an le thereto andwherein said link is pivotal] connected to sai lever ad acent to theuncture of said lm part and said handle part.

4. A vehicle comprising a frame, a support mounted on said frame, atrack trained, in part, about said support, a shoe, means for pivotallymounting said shoe on said frame for pivotal movement relative to abraking position and including an element connected to said shoe forcommon movement therewith and rockable about a transverse axis fixedwith respect to said frame, a rigid lever including a link partpivotally connected at one end to said frame and a handle part extendingfrom the other end of said link part, a link pivotally connected to saidrockable element and to said lever adjacent to the junction of said linkpart and said handle part, and means for adjustably varying the lengthof said link part to regulate the relation of said shoe to said trackwhen said shoe is in said braking position.

5. A vehicle in accordance with claim 4 wherein said link part lengthadjustment means includes a first link part portion and a second linkpart portion, and means for adjustably fixing said first and second linkpart portions to each other.

6. A vehicle in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means foradjustably fixing said first and second link part portions includes abushing on one of the said first and second link part portions, andwherein the other of said link part portions includes a threaded sectionextending in said bushing and further including locking nuts on saidthreaded section at the opposite ends of said bushing.

7. A vehicle comprising a frame, an idler wheel mounted on said framefor rotation about a fixed axis, a first track trained, in part, aboutsaid idler wheel, and including longitudinally spaced and transverselyarranged lugs, a shoe movable relative to a braking position in opposingrelation to said idler wheel and with said track between said idlerwheel and said shoe, said shoe including transversely arranged ribsengageable between said transversely arranged lugs on said track toprevent lengthwise movement of said track when said shoe is in saidbraking position, means on said frame for moving said shoe to and fromsaid braking position including means for pivotally mounting said shoeon said frame for pivotal movement relative to said braking position andincluding an element rockable about a transverse axis fixed with respectto said frame, and a linkage comprising a lever including a link parthaving a first link part portion including a bushing and a second linkpart portion pivotally connected to said frame and including a threadedsection extending in said bushing, and first link part locking nuts onsaid threaded section at the opposite ends of said bushing, whereby toadjustably vary the length of said link part so as to regulate therelation of said shoe to said track when said shoe is in said brakingposition, and a handle part extending from said link part and at anangle thereto, and a link pivotally connected to said rockable elementand to said lever adjacent to the junction of said link part and saidhandle part, a flange on one of the said link and said lever, and anedge on the other of said link and said lever adapted to be engaged bysaid flange to limit relative pivotal movement between said lever andsaid link so as to establish said shoe in said braking position.

8. A vehicle in accordance with claim 7 and further including a secondtrack supported by said frame for movement on the opposite side of saidframe from said first track, said second track being without anexternally applied brake.

l i 8 I

1. A vehicle comprising a frame, a support mounted on said frame, atrack trained, in part, about said support, a shoe, means for pivotallymounting said shoe on said frame for pivotal movement relative to abraking position and including an element connected to said shoe androckable about a transverse axis fixed with respect to said frame, alever pivotally connected to said frame, a link pivotally connected tosaid rockable element and to said lever, and means for limiting relativepivotal movement between said lever and said link to establish said shoein said braking position.
 2. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1wherein said pivotal movement limiting means comprises a flange on oneof the said link and said lever, and an edge on the other of said linkand said lever adapted to be engaged by said flange.
 3. A vehicle inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said lever includes a link partpivotally connected at one end to said frame and a handle part extendingfrom the other end of said link part at an angle thereto and whereinsaid link is pivotally connected to said lever adjacent to the junctureof said link part and said handle part.
 4. A vehicle comprising a frame,a support mounted on said frame, a track trained, in part, about saidsupport, a shoe, means for pivotally mounting said shoe on said framefor pivotal movement relative to a braking position and including anelement connected to said shoe for common movement therewith androckable about a transverse axis fixed with respect to said frame, arigid lever including a link part pivotally connected at one end to saidframe and a handle part extending from the other end of said link part,a link pivotally connected to said rockable element and to said leveradjacent to the junction of said link part and said handle part, andmeans for adjustably varying the length of said link part to regulatethe relation of said shoe to said track when said shoe is in saidbraking position.
 5. A vehicle in accordance with claim 4 wherein saidlink part length adjustment means includes a first link part portion anda second link part portion, and means for adjustably fixing said firstand second link part portions to each other.
 6. A vehicle in accordancewith claim 5 wherein said means for adjustably fixing said first andsecond link part portions includes a bushing on one of the said firstand second link part portions, and wherein the other of said link partportions includes a threaded section extending in said bushing andfurther including locking nuts on said threaded section at the oppositeends of said bushing.
 7. A vehicle comprising a frame, an idler wheelmounted on said frame for rotation about a fixed axis, a first tracktrained, in part, about said idler wheel, and including longitudinallyspaced and transversely arranged lugs, a shoe movable relative to abraking position in opposing relation to said idler wheel and with saidtrack between said idler wheel and said shoe, said shoe includingtransversely arranged ribs engageable between said transversely arrangedlugs on said track to prevent lengthwise movement of said track whensaid shoe is in said braking position, means on said frame for movingsaid shoe to and from said braking position including means forpivotally mounting said shoe on said frame for pivotal movement relativeto said braking position and including an element rockable about atransverse axis fixed with respect to said frame, and a linkagecomprising a lever including a link part having a first link partportion including a bushing and a second link part portion pivotallyconnected to said frame and including a threaded section extending insaid bushing, and first link part locking nuts on said threaded sectionat the opposite ends of said bushing, whereby to adjustably vary thelength of said liNk part so as to regulate the relation of said shoe tosaid track when said shoe is in said braking position, and a handle partextending from said link part and at an angle thereto, and a linkpivotally connected to said rockable element and to said lever adjacentto the junction of said link part and said handle part, a flange on oneof the said link and said lever, and an edge on the other of said linkand said lever adapted to be engaged by said flange to limit relativepivotal movement between said lever and said link so as to establishsaid shoe in said braking position.
 8. A vehicle in accordance withclaim 7 and further including a second track supported by said frame formovement on the opposite side of said frame from said first track, saidsecond track being without an externally applied brake.